Shillong: A symposium on climate change
today urged the Government of India to create a facility for
identification, characterization and preservation of genetic
resources in the Northeast.
The meet felt that North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in
Shillong could be the best institution in the region to have
such a facility, a statement issued after the symposium titled Assessment and Conservation of Genetic Resources in Changing
Environment organized by the UGC and other Central bodies
here said.
Over 100 participants from different parts of the country
presented their research findings, highlighting the importance
of the region as a biodiversity hotspot and the impact of
human activities and climate change on the genetic resources.
"The Ministry of Science and Technology should emphasize
the need to undertake research programmes on unexplored and
underutilized crops as these could constitute the genetic base
for genes for improved nutritional quality of foods," another
recommendation stated, calling for a separate task force for
coordinating the research activities.
Underlining the need for qualitative as well as
quantitative mapping of bio-resources and assessment of the
impact on climate change on these resources, the meet also
emphasized the need for a research programme to develop
protocols for conservation of rare and endangered plant
genetic resources.
In his address, NEHU vice chancellor Pramode Tandon
highlighted the importance of Northeast as a biodiversity
hotspot.
AK Koul of BBSG University, Jammu, highlighted the
significance of climate change on the reproductive processes
in plants which could lead to impaired multiplication of
species.
PTI
First Published: Friday, September 10, 2010, 21:58